Prong bending tool



July 6, 1954 I T, s. OKONSKI 2,682,794

PRONG BENDING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1950 \NVENTOR mew ore5. 0%0/25/0' July 6, 1954 s O'KONSK] Q 2,682,794

PRONG BENDING TOOL Filed Oct. 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORTfieadore S. OXcwsk/ Patented July 6, 1954 PRONG BENDING TOOL TheodoreS. OKonski, Beech Bottom, W. Va., asv signor to Wheeling SteelCorporation, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationOctober 19, 1950, Serial No. 190,982

Claims.

1 This invention relates to a prong bending tool. It has to do primarilywith a tool for bending prongs of pronged members to engage othermembers in composite constructions.

' One use to which my prong bending tool may be put is the bending ofprongs of pronged baseboard clips into holding engagement with flanged,

.my prong bending tool may without departing from the invention beadapted for other prong bending uses.v

My prong bending tool is primarily intended and adapted for bending aprong of a pronged member of bendable sheet material, such, for example,as sheet metal or sheet plastic. The tool preferably comprises a headhaving a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member and a prongbender connected with thehead and movable relatively to the head in adirection transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend theprong. The prong bender is preferably connected with the head adjacentthe slot. The means for moving the prong bender are preferably connectedtherewith and with the head.

The head preferably has a backing up portion at the opposite side of theplane of the slot from the prong bender backing up and bracing thepronged member during bending of the prong.

- The backing up portion is preferably at least partly in the plane ofmovement of the prong bender. Desirably there is a stop portion at theopposite side of the plane of the slot from the prong bender engagingthe prong to limit the extent of bending thereof. The backing up portionand the stop portion may be integral with each other. I

The slot in the bead of the prong bending tool may receive a portion ofthe pronged member disposed generally between two prongs thereof and thetool may have two prong benders connected with the head and disposed onopposite sides thereof and each movable relatively to the head in adirection transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend oneof the prongs. Such prong benders are preferably disposed close- 2 1yadjacent the opposite sides of the head, the tool being adapted to beshifted parallel to the plane of the slot between a position in whichone of the prong benders is opposed to one prong and a position in whichthe other prong bender is opposed'to theother prong so that the twoprongs may be bent successively, the tool being shifted between prongbending operations. Operating means are preferably provided which areconnected with both prong benders for operat: ing them simultaneously.

Desirably the prong bender is pivoted to the head and means are providedwhich are connected with the prong bender and with the head forpivotally moving the prong bender relatively to the head in a directiontransversely of the plane of the slot in the head of the tool to engageand bend the prong. The means for pivotally moving the prong bender ispreferably a lever also pivoted to the head and I preferably provide alink pivotally connected with the lever and with the prong bender forpivotally moving the prong bender upon operation of the lever.

The head of the prong bending tool preferably has a handle and means arepreferably provided which include a second handle connected with thehead and with the prong bender so that upon relative movement of thehandles the prong bender is operatively moved.

As above indicated, my tool may be employed for bending a prong of apronged member into a channel of a channeled member lying against thepronged member. The head of the tool may have at one side of the slot apositioning portion adapted to seat in the channel and at the other sidea prong bender. The positioning porably disposed at the other side ofthe slot directly opposite the backing up portion. When the tool is tobe employed with double pronged members the head may have at one side ofthe slot a backing up portion having a pair of downward projections eachshaped to seat in the channel of one of two channeled members, one ofthe prongs of the double pronged member cooperating with each channeledmember. The head will prefer,- ablyhave prong benders at the other sideof the slot opposite the respective downward projections.

The head may have a base portion adapted to seat on a support toposition -the tool. The base portion may have a handle formed as a partthereof. In such case the tool preferably comprises an operating portionhaving a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member, a prongbender connected with the operating portion of the head and meansconnected with the prong bender and with the head and including a handlepositioned in opposed relationship to the first mentioned handle formoving the prong bender relatively to the head in a directiontransversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong whenthe handles are relatively moved toward each other.

The head of the prong bending tool may be a generally planar head havinga slot transversely therethrough for receiving a portion of the prongedmember and the head may have a handle projecting therefrom generally inthe plane of the head. The prong bender may be connected with the headand means including a second handle may be provided, said means beingconnected with the head and with the prong bender and positioned withthe second handle in opposed relationship to the first mentioned handleso that upon movement of the handles toward each other the prong benderis moved relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the planeof the slot to engage and bend the prong.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of certain present preferredembodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferredembodiments of the invention in which Figure 1 is a face view of a prongbending tool showing the tool in position to bend a prong of a prongedbaseboard clip, the clip being indicated in chain lines;

Figure 2 is an edge view of the tool shown in Figure 1 in position tobend one of two prongs of a double pronged baseboard clip into thechannel of a channeled baseboard member, the clip and two channeledbaseboard members being indicated in chain lines;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary face view similar to Figure 1 showing theposition of the parts of the prong bending tool and the position of thebent prong after bending thereof;

Figure 4 is an end view of the prong bending tool of Figures 1, 2 and 3as viewed from the lower end of the tool as shown in those figures;

Figure 5 is an end view of a modified form of prong bending tool;

Figure 6 is a side view of the tool shown in Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary side view of the tool shown in Figures 5 and6 viewed from the side of the tool opposite that shown in Figure 6 andwith the tool partially operated.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, there isshown a prong bending tool having a generally planar head 2 having aslot 3 transversely therethrough for receiving a portion of a prongedmember indicated in chain lines in Figure 1 and designated generally byreference numeral 4. The pronged member 4 may be a baseboard clip asdisclosed in my said application.

The head 2 has a handle 5 projecting therefrom generally in the plane ofthe head, the handle being integral with the head. A grip portion 6 isapplied to the end of the handle 5 to facilitate operation of the tool.

Pivoted to the head 2 at 1 are two opposed prong benders 8 and 9. Eachprong bender is of generally triangular shape having an operative faceit adapted upon operation of the tool 8 and 9 disposed downwardly.

to bend a prong H from the position indicated in Figure 1 to theposition indicated in Figure 3. The prong benders 8 and 9 are disposedat opposite sides of the body 2 as shown in Figure 2. A link 12 ispivoted at one end to both prong benders 8 and 9 at l3, being positionedtherebetween. The opposite end of the link I2 is pivoted at hi to an arm:15 projecting laterally from a handle it. The handle it is disposed ingenerally opposed relationship to the handle 5 and has a grip portion H.The handle I6 is pivoted to the head 2 at it. A spring is biased betweenthe handles 5 and. I6 urges the handles apart to the position shown inFigure 1.

At the opposite side of the slot 3 from the prong benders 8 and 9 thehead 2 has a backing up portion 21!. The backing up portion 20 has atits bottom two positioning portions 2| and 22, each shaped to enter achannel of a channeled baseboard member to position the tool relativelythereto. In Figure 2 the pronged baseboard clip 4 is shown as having twoflanged baseboard members 23 and 24 applied thereto. The tool is shownwith the positioning portion 2| in the bottom channel of the channeledbaseboard member 23. The positioning portions 215 and 22 also serve asstop portions for limiting the extent of operation of the prong benders8 and 9 since they prevent bending of the prongs any farther than asshown in Figure 3. When a prong is bent down from the position of Figure1 to the position of Figure 3 to engage the lower channel of a channeledbaseboard member the bottom extremity or point of the prong may be bentslightly out of the plane of the prong through engagement with thechannel as indicated in Figure 3, although in that figure the channeledbaseboard member has been omitted for clarity of showing. After one ofthe prongs of a double pronged member has been bent down the tool may beshifted over to the opposite side of the double pronged member where theother of the positioning portions is disposed within the lower channelof the other baseboard member and the second prong is bent down.

In use the tool of Figures 1-4 is held by a workman either in one handor in two hands with the end of the tool having the prong benders Withthe handles apart as shown in Figure l the tool is lowered over apronged member so that a portion of the pronged member is receivedWithin the slot 3. The tool is positioned with one of the prong benders8 and 9 in line with a prong of the pronged member. If the prong is tobe bent into engagement with a channel of a channeled member the tool ispositioned by disposing one of the positioning portions 2| and 22 in thechannel. Then the handles 5 and !5 are relatively moved toward eachother causing the prong benders to turn from the position shown inFigure l to the position shown in Figure 3, bending the prong from theposition of Figure 1 to the position of Figure 3. Bending of the prongis limited by the backing up portion 23. After the prong has been bentthe handles are released and the spring [9 returns them to the positionof Figure 1 whereupon the tool may be shifted over to bend the secondprong of a double pronged member as above explained or applied to adifferent prongeol member to bend the prong thereof.

While the tool of Figures 1-4 has proved eminently satisfactory in use,it is sometimes desirable to provide the head of the tool with a supportto position the tool, as against a floor member.

or other supporting surface; Figures 5, 6 and '7 show a modified form oftool which so far as the prong bending function is concerned operatesthe same as the tool of Figures 1-4 but which is provided with asupporting base portion. Parts in Figures 5, 6 and '7 which correspondto parts in Figures 1-4 are designated by the same reference numerals,each with a prime afiixed.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, projecting laterally from the head2' and connected therewith, as, for example, by welding, is a baseportion 25 adapted to seat on a support to position the tool. Integralwith the base portion 25 and with the head 2' is a handle 5 having agrip portion 6.

The head 2 is, like the head 2 of Figures 1-4, generaly planar and has aslot 3' transversely therethrough for receiving a portion of a prongedPivoted to the head 2 at l are two opposed prong benders 3' and 9. Eachprong bender is of generally triangular shape having an operative facel0 adapted upon operation of the tool to bend a prong of a prongedmember. The prong benders 8 and 9' are disposed at opposite sides of thebody 2' as shown in Figure 6. A link [2 is pivoted at one end to bothprong benders 8' and 9 at I3, being positioned therebetween. Theopposite end of the link i2 is pivoted at M to a lever l5 pivoted to thehead 2 at l8. At its end opposite the pivotal connection 14 the lever l5has a slot 26 extending thereinto, the faces of the slot being ofconcave cross section as shown at 2! in.

formed by the tool of Figures 5, 6 and 7 is the same as that performedby the tool of Figures 1-4, but the tool of Figures 5, 6 and '7 isadapted to be supported upon the floor or other surface while being usedand hence is more readily adaptable to one-handed use with a degree ofspeed and precision perhaps somewhat greater than in the case of thetool of Figures 1-4. When the tool of Figures 5, 6 and '7 is suitablypositioned relatively to the work the handle I6 is pressed downwardly.This may be done by squeezing the grip portions 6' and H together withthe hand but exerting suflicient downward pressure on the tool as awhole that the base portion remains seated on the floor or othersupporting surface. The pin 29 projecting from the end of the handle l6moves generally upwardly in an are about the axis of the pivot 28;

Since the ball 30 is engaged by the concave faces 21 of the slot 28 itsupward movement causes pivoting of the lever l5 in the clockwisedirection about the axis of the pivot I8 viewing Figure 5 withconsequent operation of the prong benders 8 and 9' in the same fashionas the prong benders 8 and 9 of the form of tool shown in Figures 1-4.

While I have shown and described certain present prefered embodiments ofthe invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention isnot limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member into a channel of achanneled member lying against the pronged member comprising a headhaving a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member, the headhaving at one side of the slot a positioning portion adapted to seat inthe channel and having at the other side of the slot a prong benderpivoted to the head adjacent the mouth of the slot, and means connectedwith the prong bender for moving the same relatively to the head in adirection transversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend theprong.

2. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member into a channel of achanneled member lying against the pronged member comprising a headhaving a slot for receiving a portion of the pronged member, the headhaving at one side of the slot a backing-up portion whose extremity isshaped to seat in the channel and having at the other side of the slotdirectly opposite the backing-up portion a prong bender pivoted to thehead adjacent the mouth of the slot, and means connected with the prongbender for moving the same relatively to'the head toward the backingupmember to engage and bend the prong.

3. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member comprising a headhaving a base portion adapted to seat on a support to position the tool,a grip portion shaped to receive a portion of a hand when the baseportion is seated on a support to position the tool and an operatingportion having a slot for receiving a portion of the member, 8, prongbender connected with the operating portion of the head and meansconnected with the prong bender and with the head for moving the prongbender relatively to the head in a direction transversely of the planeof the slot to engage and bend the prong.

4. A tool for bending a prong of a pronged member comprising a headhaving a base portion having a. part adapted to seat on a support toposition the tool, the base portion having a handle formed as a partthereof and spaced from said first mentioned part, and an operatingportion having a slot for receiving a portion of the member, a prongbender connected with the operating portion of the head and meansconnected with the prong bender and with the head and including a handlepositioned in opposed relationship to the first mentioned handle formoving the prong bender relatively to the head in a directiontransversely of the plane of the slot to engage and bend the prong whenthe handles are relatively moved toward each other.

5. A tool for bending spaced apart prongs of a pronged member comprisinga head having a generally planar slot for receiving a portion of themember disposed generally between the prongs, a prong bending unitmounted on the head for movement relatively to the head in a directionintersecting the plane of the slot, the prong bending unit comprisingtwo prong benders respectively disposed at opposite sides of the head,and an operating member movably mounted on the head and connected withthe prong bending unit for moving the prong bending unit relatively tothe head in said direction to an extreme operative position to bend theprongs of the pronged member, the head having backingup means at theopposite side of the slot from the prong benders, substantially parallelto the plane of the slot and in directly opposed relation to the prongbenders when the prong bending unit is in said extreme operativeposition, the

7 tool being adapted to be shifted parallel to the plane of the slotbetween a position in which one of the prong benders is opposed to oneof the spaced apart prongs and a position in which the other prongbender is opposed to the other of the spaced apart prongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 630,387 Maxwell Aug. 8, 1899 919,989 Wood Apr. 27, 1909 NumberNumber 745,375

Name Date Thestrup Aug. 18,1914 Erickson Aug. 31, 1915 Marshall Apr. 12,1927 Jones Nov. 13, 1928 Jurey et a1 Feb. 2'7, 1934 Lovinggood Oct. 23,1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France May 10, 1933

